What is a Tontine?
A tontine is a traditional rotating savings and credit association prevalent throughout French-speaking Africa, where community members regularly contribute fixed amounts to a common fund. Each cycle, one member receives the entire collected amount, continuing until all participants have received their payout.
Cultural Significance
- • Ubuntu philosophy: Community interdependence
- • Collective prosperity benefits entire group
- • Social capital building beyond finance
- • Cultural preservation in modern contexts
Economic Impact
- • Over 100 million Africans participate
- • $50+ billion mobilized annually
- • 75% of members are women
- • 40% of businesses funded through tontines
Traditional Tontine Process
1
Group Formation
Trusted community members join
2
Regular Contributions
Fixed amounts collected
3
Rotating Payouts
Members receive full amount
4
Cycle Completion
Process continues until all paid
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